From the mouth of a 5-year-old

Response to hail: "It's raining rocks!"

Hungry on the way home from church, talking to herself: "There's nothing else in the car, so I HAVE to eat these."  Yep.  She was referring to her boogers.

The Best of Blogs

I know I haven't been blogging much lately.  My 2013 has proven to begin much busier than I thought it would - with such unanticipated events as helping my best friend move and, oh joy, jury duty.  So in lieu of my own thoughts, let me share with you the blogs I go to almost everyday:

1. Dos Family (this is my fave of all faves)
2. Chris Blattman (his subject matter fascinates me and he is one smart cookie)
3. Istoria Ministries
4. Kita Walks

Two others I read on occasion:

1. The Wartburg Watch (cause I think it's good to keep authority in check)
2. Roger Olsen (though I don't actually enjoy this blog.  I don't know why I keep reading.)

There are other blogs I read, but they're less public and don't feel free to put links up.  And really, the top 4 are the only I look for every single day.

.:First day of the new year:.

Friends for 27 years!

Perfect sunset, January 1, 2013

Sunset at Newport Beach

G.K. Chesterton

If Syme had been able to see himself, he would have realised that he, too, seemed to be for the first time himself and no one else.

2012

"We're 30, we have iPhones, and it's the last Saturday of 2012." - My bff

It snowed in my town yesterday - a town in SoCal that doesn't get snow.  That kind of sums up my year: different and unexpected.

• I turned 30 and my Georgia bff flew out to surprise me at my 80s-themed bday party.
• I decided to have, then had, major abdominal surgery.
• I had my appendix out.
• I went back to school...something I swore I'd never do.
• I had a pain-free period for the first time in over a decade.
• I met 4 new nieces and nephews.  (They're awesome, btw.)
• I learned CSS, HTML, and JavaScript...something else I swore I'd never do.
• Two friends from long ago and far away (literally) came to Cali for a visit.
• Another friend from early college converted quite unexpectedly to Christianity.
• I had a gift of French wine and French cheese for the first time in 7 years. 
• I got a smart phone.  Yet another thing I swore I'd never do.
• I deleted facebook.
• The furthest I traveled was to NorCal.  Me not traveling in a whole year...that's a record!

And on top of all that I stayed home on New Year's Eve with a corn pack on my feet and a heated blanket.  You may stay up to ring in the new year if you want, but I'm an early-to-bed kinda girl myself. :)  Here's to a good 2013!

Something funny in the news:

"Pope Benedict XVI has also called on French bishops to oppose the bill and defend marriage as the 'foundation of social life.'” (source)

A celibate man who is the leader and head of thousands (millions? Who knows) of other celibate men and women, calls marriage the foundation of social life.  I find this funny...delightfully ironic.

We don't need Islamic extremist terrorists here in the U.S.

cause we're doing a fine job of shooting ourselves.

And I am so very, very sick of it.  Every time this happens I get sad.  This time I'm just pissed.  Stop already.